Mansst minch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. -A., H. & F. MINCE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROMAN CANDLES, &c. No. 308,687. Patented Dec. 2. 1884.

I! A Z WITNESSES INVENTOR A I 0 a ma C fimo/f fm hc/l ATTORNEYS.

N PETERS, Plwimhkhogmphen Washington. u, c.

m S b m 2 H vnu N I M. P & H A 0 (No Model.)

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROMAN CANDLES, 6:0.

Patefited Dec. 2, 1884.

No. 308,687. I

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INVENTOR: C6,: %m 'm/ BY @TLWW LLM/V 1 ATTORNEYS.

A lllIlWl/A j & E mm S N. PETERS. Plmwuxlw n lw. Waihmglon. n. c.

llnrTnn STATns PATENT @FFTCE.

I OTTO A. MINCII, HERMANN MINGH, AND FRANK MINCE, OF NE\VARK, N. J.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROMAN CANDLES, $4.0.

SPEE GE-EIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,687, dated December 2, 1884.

Application filed March 4,1984. (No model.)

To (tZZ who/2t (It may concern:

Be it known that we, Orro A. BUNCH, HER- MANN MINCE, and FRANK Mrxon, all of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Making Roman Candles and other Fireorks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of our improved apparatus partly in section, and parts being broken away. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line a Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a sectional plan view of the same, taken through the broken line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a plan view, partly in section, of the gage-plate for putting in the clay. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line 2 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a plan view of an adjustable gage-slide for putting in the powder, part being broken away. Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of the same, part being broken away. Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line a a, Fig. 6. Fig. 9, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line 1) c, Fig. 7.- Fig. 10, Sheet 2, is a sectional elevation of a guide-plate for putting in the stars. Fig. 11, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of a gageplate for putting in the combustible composition. Fig. 12, Sheet 2, is a perspective view ofone of the stars. Fig. 13, Sheet 2, is a plan view ofthe mechanism for introducing the stars into the star guideplate. Fig. 14, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line w w, Fig. 13, and

shownin position upon a star feedplate. Fig. 15, Sheet 2, is a plan view of the clampingplate of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the manufacture of Roman candles and other fire-works.

The invention consists in an apparatus for making Roman candles and other fire-works, 5o constructed with a detachable recessed plate provided with nipples, and adetachable plate provided with countersunk perforations for holding the cases, a perforated guide-plate, and perforated clamping-plates and their operating mechanism for carrying and operating the rannncrs, and a series of slotted and perforated plates provided with sliding perforated plates for introducing the materials into the cases.

The invention further consists of various details of construction, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

The frame of the apparatus is formed of two vertical side plates, A, connected at their up per and lower ends by two plates, B.

C are the cases to be charged, the lower ends of which fit into recesses G in the upper side of a plate, D. The plate D is made of such a length as to fit into the space between the sides A of the frame, and is secured to the bottom plate, B, of the said frame by pins E, passing through it and into the said bottom plate.

To the plate D, in the bottom of the casere ceiving recesses G, are secured pins or nipples F, concentric with the said recesses, and of such a size as to fit into the interior of the lower ends of the cases G, and serve as stopplugs to the lower ends of the said cases. The upper ends of the cases 0 fit into the countersunk lower ends of the perforations H through the plate I, which perforations are made of a diameter equal to the interior diameter of the cases 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the perforations H are flared, so that the substances to be introduced into the cases 0 will readily enter and pass through the said perforations.

Upon the ends of the plate I are formed tongues J, which fit into and slide in grooves K, formed in the inner surfaces of the sides A. The plate I, when adjusted, is secured in place by a pin, L, passing through the side A and into the end of the said plate I. \Yith this construction, when the cases 0 are to be inserted, the pins E L are withdrawn, the plates D I are removed from the frame A B, the lower ends of the cases G are inserted in the recesses G of the plate D, and the plate I is placed upon the upper ends of the cases 0.

The plates D I and the interposed cases are then inserted in the frames A B and secured in place by the pins E L. The charged cases are removed by taking out the plates D I, raising the plate I from the upper ends ofthe cases, and raising the cases from the plate D.

Upon the upper side of the plate D is placed a plate, M, having holes formed through it, corresponding in number, size, and position with the ease-recesses and the pin-holes of the said plate D. After the lower ends of the cases 0 have been inserted through the holes in the plate M into the recesses G in the plate D, the plate M is raised upon the cases 0, to bring the upper ends of the said cases 0 into position to enter the countersunk lower ends of the perforations H in the plate I. Incase shorter or longer cases 0 are to be charged, blocksNare inserted or removed from between the plate D and the bottom plate, 13, of the frame.

In charging the cases 0, the separate materials as they are inserted are packed by rammers, the heads 0 of which are made of such a size as to exactly fit the interior of the cases 0. The stems P of the rammers pass through guide-holes in the plate Q, placed at such a distance above the plate I will allow the feed-plates (hereinafter described) to be iir serted between the rammer-heads O and the plate I. The upper ends of the rammer-stems P pass through holes in the slotted plate R and in the plate S, placed in the slot'of the said plate It. The plate S is made shorter than the slot in which it is placed, and to its end is swiveled the end of a hand-screw, T. The hand-screw T passes in through a screw-hole in the end of the slotted plate It, or in a nut secured to the said end, so that the stems P can be clamped and released by operating the said screw. lVith this construction, should the interior of any of the cases 0 be larger or smaller than that of the others, the screw T can be operated to release the stems P and allow the rammers to adjust themselves to the heights of the material inthe various cases. The screw T can then be operated to cause the plates R S to clamp the rammerstems P; and the rammers can then be operated to pack the material by the mechanism hereinafter described. The ends of the slotted plate R are recessed to receive theguide-cleats U, attached to the sides A of the frame, so that the said plate R will move up and down vertically.

To the upper sides of the ends of the slotted plate R are attached the lower ends of two rack-bars, V, the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of the gear-wheels \V, attached to the shaft X. The shaft X revolves in bearings Y, attached to the top plate, B, of the frame.

To one end of the shaft X is attached a palley, Z, around which passes a belt, a. The belt a also passes around a pulley, I), provided with a crank-handle, c, and journaled to the side A of the frame in such a position that it can be readily reached and operated to raise and lower the clamping-plates R S and the rammers 0 P. The rack-bars'V are held verti cal against the push of the gear-wheels \V by the rollers (1, against which their outer edges rest, and which are pivoted to upright brackets 6, attached to the top plate, 13, of the frame.

f is a gage-plate for putting the clay packing in the lower parts of the cases 0, and which has a slot formed in it near its lower side to receive the sliding plate 9. The plates f 9 have holes formed through them corresponding in number and position with the holes in the plate I. The part of the plate f above the plate 9 is made of such a thickness that the holes in the said part, when the plate 9 is drawn forward to close their lower ends, will hold the amount of clay required to be putinto the lower parts of the cases 0. The clay is introduced into the cases by placing the filled gageplate f upon the top of the plate I, pushing the plate 9 inward to bring its holes into line with the holes in the plates f I, and then running the rammers O P downward, packing the clay into the bottoms of the said cases.

h is the gage-plate for introducing the powder into the cases 0. The plate It is made with holes corresponding in number and position with the holes in the plate I. The plate It is slotted to receive two or more sliding plates, i', so that larger Ol smaller amounts of powder can be introduced into the cases 0 at a time, as may be required. The sliding plates 2' are perforated to correspond with the perforations of the plate h. In the upper side of the plate 72, near one end, is formed a dovetailed groove, j, which is closed by a slide, 7.. In the plate 71. at the bottom of the groove j are formed as many holes as the said plate has sliding plates 1', to receive a locking-pin, Z, and the said holes in the bottom of the groove j are continued through the plates 1. One of the pin-holes in each plate t is elongated, so that when the pin Z is inserted in the said hole that plate can be drawn forward, but the other plates will be locked in place. By this construction, by adjusting the pin Z, the powderreceiving apertures can be made larger or smaller, as may be desired.

In supplying the cases G with powder the pin l is adjusted to cause the apertures in the plates h t to receive the desired amount of powder, the free plate 45 is drawn forward, and the said perforations are filled with powder. The filled plate h is then placed upon the plate I, and the free sliding plate i is pushed in to allow the powder to pass down into the cases 0. The plate his then removed, and the pow der can then be packed by running down the rammers O I m is the plate for introducing the stars into the cases 0, which plate is perforated to correspond with the perforations of the plate I, and is provided with a perforated slide, a. The plates at n are similar to the plates f 9, except that the upper part of the said plate at three (more or less) perforated slides, p, in

is thicker than that of the plate f, and the upper ends of the perforations are flared, as shown in Fig. 10, to cause the stars to pass into the said perforations readily.

0 is the plate for putting in the combustible composition, which plate is made in the same manner the plate It for putting in the powder, except that the upper part of the plate 0 is made thicker than the upper part of the said plate 71. The plate 0 is provided with the same manner as the plate 71, the said slides being controlled by a stop-pin in the same manner as the slides 'i of the said plate h.

1 is a plate which is provided with perforations correspondingin number, shape, and size with the perforations of thestar feed-plate in.

To thelowerside ofthe ends and rear edges of the plate g are attached cleats r, thelowcr parts of the inner edges of which are rabbeted to receive the star iced-plate m, as shown in Fig. 14, The upper parts of the inner edges of the end cleats, r, are rabbeted to receive tongues formed upon the upper parts of the end edges of the plate .9, which is provided with perforations corresponding in number and position with the perforations of the plate 1.

In the plate a, at the rear side of each perforation, is formed arecess in which is placed a rubber block, t, concaved upon its forward side to :form the rear parts of the perforations through the said plate .9. The middle part of the forward edge of the plate 8 has a projection, a, formed upon its upper side, and provided with a screw-hole or nut to receive the hand-screw c. The inner end of the handscrew t rests against the forward edge of the plate q, so that the plate 8 will be drawn forward by turning the said screw inward.

To the upper side of the end parts of the plate q are attached pins 10, the upper ends of which project to enter U shaped slots 00 in the end parts of the plate y, placed upon the top of the said plate g.

In the plate 1 are formed as many slots a as there are rows of perforations Z) in the plate q, and in such positions as to be directly over the said rows of perforations b when the pins 10 are in the right-hand arms of the U slots so, and be over the spaces between the said rows of perforations when the pins to are in the lefthand arms of the said slots 00, as shown in Fig-l3.

To the upper side of the plate y, and surrounding the slots a through the said plate, are attached cleats .2, to keep the stars in place upon the said plate.

To the edges of the plate 3 at the adjacent sides of the slots a, and opposite the spaces between the holes of the rows, are secured oru pon them are formed cleats or projections l to contract the said parts of the slots and cause the stars 0 to tilt and take an erect position within the said slots a at the ends of the said cleats 1, so that when the said platen is moved to the left, bringing the slots cover the rows of holes I) in the plate q, the said erect stars will drop into or through the said perforations.

In using the mechanism the plate q is placed over the star feedplate m and its perforations Z) are closed by drawing the plate 3 outward. The plate y is then adjusted to bring the pins 10 into the left-hand arms of the slots :1, a quantity of stars are placed upon the plate 3 and the said plate 9/ is agitated to cause the stars to take an erect position between the adjacent ends of the cleats 1. The plate 3 is then pushed inward to allow the stars to drop through the perforations l) in the plate 1 into the perforations in the plate m. The plate 8 is then drawn forward and the 7 plate 3/ is again agitated to cause another set of stars to take an erect position and drop into the perforations b in the plate q. The plate 8 is then pushed in, allowing the erect stars to drop through the holes in the said plate 8 and rest upon the ends of the stars in the plate in. The screw 1) is then operated to draw the plate s outward and clamp the stars 0' in place in the holes I) in the plate (1, the rubber blocks t preventing the said stars from being injured. The plates 3 q s can now be removed from the plate in without any of the stars falling out, and the stars in the plate in can be charged and primed, and the said plate :an be placed in the machine to introduce the stars into the cases The plate q and its attachments can then be placed over the plate m, and the plate s can be slaclzened to allow the clamped stars to drop into the perforations of the said plate 111, and the plate 3 can be again agitated to bring another set of stars into the perforations Z), where they can be clamped, as before described.

In using the apparatus the clay, powder, stars, and combustible composition can be introduced into the cases 0 in regular order, one, two, or more series ofpowder, stars, and combustible composition being introduced, as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for making Roman candles and other fire-works, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of the frame, a detachable recessed plate provided with nipples, and a detachable plate provided with countersunk perforations for holding the cases, a perforated plate, and sliding perforated clamping-plates and their operating mechanism for carrying and operating the ram mers, and a series of perforated and slotted plates provided with perforated sliding plates for introducing the materials into the cases, as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for making Roman candles and other tire-works, the combination, with the frame A B, of the recessed plate D, provided with the nipples F, and the plate I, having countersunk perforations, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the cases are securely held while being charged, as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for making Roman candles and other fire-works, the combination, with the recessed plate D, plate I, provided with perforations countersunk around their lower edges, and the cases 0, of the perforated movable plate M, the perforations of which coincide with those of plates D I, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the upper ends of the cases can be readily held in position to enter the countersunk perforations of the upper plate, as set forth. 4. In an apparatus for making Roman candles and other fire-works, the combination, with the frame A B and the rammers O P, of the perforated guide-plate Q, the perforated clamping-plates R S, and a driving mechanism, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said rammers can be readily adjusted and operated, as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for makingRoman candles and other fire-works, the combination, with the frame A B and the movable clamping-plates R S, having coincident perforations, and the rammers P, adjustable in said apertures, of the rack-bars V, secured to the upper surface of the plate R, the gear-wheels W, mounted on a shaft, X, having its bearings on the top of the frame, and the pulleys and belt Z I) a, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said clampingplates can be readily moved upand down to operate the rammers, as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for making Roman canmaining plate, said plate will be allowed to slide and the others locked in place, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for making Roman candles and other fire-works, the combination, with the perforated plate q, having cleatsr at the end and rear edges of its lower side and pins to at its upper side, of the perforated plate 3, provided with rubber blocks t and hand-screw o, and the transverselyslotted plate 1 having cleats 2 around its slotted middle part,and provided with U-slots 00, and with small cleats l at the opposite sides of its transverse slots a, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the stars can be readily introduced into the star feed-plate, as set forth.

OTTO A. MINCH. HERMANN MIN OH. FRANK MINOH.

Witnesses: 7

JAMES T. GRAHAM, O. SEDGWICK. 

